Rover Frame Condition Opinion

[achtung]

So if I go searching for a used frame for an 88, do you know what years are interchangable?

[73series88]

its hard to say on frames. they can look good from the out side but when your a couple miles in the woods and it decides to crack.
a couple of ratchet straps get you limping home. and you find yourself welding new frame horns. bet you cant guess how i know. dont bother with a used frame for a chassis swap. invest in a new one then you never have to worry about it again. my frame looked great. rusted from the inside out.
hopefully i wil be doing this myself this year.
aaron

[achtung]

Thanks for the advice, I think I will take it.

its hard to say on frames. they can look good from the out side but when your a couple miles in the woods and it decides to crack.
a couple of ratchet straps get you limping home. and you find yourself welding new frame horns. bet you cant guess how i know. dont bother with a used frame for a chassis swap. invest in a new one then you never have to worry about it again. my frame looked great. rusted from the inside out.
hopefully i wil be doing this myself this year.
aaron

[mongoswede]

I picked up a used chassis for my rover project and put about $500 worth of a friend welding into it. I also put about a million of my own hours into cleaning and sanding and painting it. If I could rewind time I'd go smack myself and tell me to buy a new galvanized chassis. The used frame I have will work for a while but from a selling stand point nothing inspires confidence to a proposed buyer like a nice new galvanized frame...sort of like having a good foundation under an old house.

[giftshopduane]

Did you pick it up? I was thinking about that one two, seems like a good deal. let me know what you do, don't want to step on our toes.

[achtung]

Did you pick it up? I was thinking about that one two, seems like a good deal. let me know what you do, don't want to step on our toes.

That is very considerate of you but not necessary. After all, all is fair in love, war and accumulation of junk! I, however, did not buy it. I bought another one that also needs a frame, but was a little more local to me. If you want I'll forward you the email that was sent to me with additional pictures of the truck. It did sound like a good deal but it was 2 hours away. If it is still available I would suspect that you could get a very good deal on it at this point, as I was talking to the owner over a month ago and he was motivated to move it along.

[giftshopduane]

Went and looked at it today... the frame is actually in good shape. The rear crossmember is gone as the pictures show. Its pretty original. All the weatherstripping is shot lots of leaks as the snow on it was melting, both foot boxes were rotted, under the drivers seat rotted, window frames, door posts and lower door frames rotted. Big dent on L quarter panel, filled with bondo, then picked off, the aluminum was corroded there. Big crease on R front fender, dents and dings on left. Lots of oil leaks (typical) the seat frames in front were buggered, top of dash had a rust hole. Breakfast was clean.

New brake lines, hoses and wheel cylinders, new gas tank. 3 layers of paint, 3 different colors, most of a hoop set comes with the truck. He said the clutch started acting up lately. One thing though, stone cold the thing fired right up and ran really well.

Its not a total loss, lots of work from my perspective, I could replace the rear crossmember and certainly drive it and repair it over time. Its a tough call. He's asking $2k for it and is pretty tight about coming down I think its maybe $1200 (?) but I'm new to pricing a series, I'm thinking about it unless others have better advice. Certainly worth saving.

[73series88]

that seems pretty rough for 2k
thats alot of rot
especially something you want to drive while your fixing it.
just my 2 cents
aaron

[1971Series88]

Serious

Wow, that is some serious cancer...I guess that you guys up NE are used to it but it seems like a lot. If that is what is evident you have to wonder about what you can't see!

I had been looking for a 109/110 for years, came across a few lke that, a few in pieces needing to be put back together and finally came across my 88 I just got. With no cancer to speak of, picked up for a steal!! They are still out there if you are patient and certainly there if you pay more moollah for it.

I would advise you to walk, or run from that one, unless you are wiling to drop at least $5-7K to get it in the shape you would want it in....not showable, but "nice" to look at!

[jumpmaster54]

I agree

I waited for a while and bought my 1967 109 5 door for $8000 with NO RUST. I waited because a frame alone is $3000 and thats not including all the stuff that will be broken when you do a frame swap or rusted or unuseable once you get under the bonnet so to speak. In the long run, spend a little more $ and get a lot less headaches.

Just my 1 shilling.

Stan